Katie Blackburn

Vice President, Commercial Strategy & Operations WHSmith North America

Katie Blackburn is Vice President of Commercial Strategy & Operations at WHSmith North America. She joined the North American business in 2023 as Vice President of Food & Beverage before becoming Vice President of Strategy, Format & General Merchandise and subsequently assuming her current role. Before relocating to North America, Katie spent nearly seven years with WHSmith in the UK, progressing from Buyer to Head of Buying for General Merchandise. She began her career at Mondelēz International, holding roles across customer planning, sales, brand marketing and customer development, including responsibility for the WHSmith account. In her current position, Katie plays a leading role in the development of WHS Media, North America’s first in-store travel retail media network, launched in partnership with SMG.